Because of my duties, I don't often get to facilitate groups, which I enjoy doing. One day I had the opportunity to facilitate a group of individuals I knew had some "clean" time (no use of drugs/alcohol). One question I always like to ask is, "Do you like yourself now that you are clean and sober, or do you like yourself better when you were actively using drugs/alcohol"? When I asked this question the group members said they really liked themselves better.

One individual was so angry when "that bow tie judge" (Judge Thomas M. Yeager of the 9th Judicial District Court) referred the individual to our facility. Now the individual is so glad and would like to thank the judge for the referral for substance abuse treatment.

I doubt this individual will ever have the opportunity to thank Judge Yeager, so I will do it. Thanks, Judge Yeager, for referring individuals to the CLHSD Behavioral Health Clinics. You and the other judges in this area are making a difference in the lives of the individuals that come before you.

Jackie Cole

Ball

As expected, GOP folds

I've said for months that the Republicans would fold like a cheap suit after they tried to extort what they couldn't win at the ballot box.

They have a sack of reasons why the 2012 election of Barack Obama didn't count. No Republicans voted for Obamacare, the Affordable Care Act. Is that a constitutional requirement? Nope!

The people didn't really know what they were voting for; the president hid all the horrible things from the American people. I guess President Obama hid them from the Republicans, the Tea Party, the Club for Growth, the American Enterprise Institute, the Chamber of Commerce and the Heritage Foundation.

Their best is that Americans might have elected Obama twice, but if they really wanted Obama and Obamacare, the people would have elected Democrats to all branches of government.

I guess now the bar is set so that that every member of government must be of one party or nothing that Congress does counts.

Sometime soon the Republican leaders will surrender unconditionally on defunding Obamacare. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas already has at this writing.

House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio will hand Obama and Obamacare another victory over the ultra-conservatives elements in the Republican Party and Tea Party.

Damian Brumley

Montgomery

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